Jay woke up to an empty bed. He immediately grabbed and pulled on a shirt and headed to Kota's room. When he didn't see anyone, he started to freak out. Running to the kitchen, he slipped his shoes on, and searched for his keys when he saw a figure sitting on the couch.
"What are you doing, Jay?" Erin quietly laughed.
"I was... I thought you left or something. I don't know what I was gonna do. What are you doing out here?" Jay asked.
"Kota was getting upset in his room, it must've been to dark. He likes to have lots of light, so I brought him out here. He's sleeping now, so that's good. When he wakes, I'll feed him. You can go back to bed. I'll wake you when you've got to ready." Erin states, shifting in her seat.
"If you're awake. I'm awake. Besides, it's your first day back to work! This is going to be exciting!" Jay exclaims before seeing the uncomfortable look on Erin's face. "Here, let me take him."
"No, I'm fine." Erin responds.
"Erin. Please, I was gone for like 3 months. Which, yes, is my fault, but I'm here now, and I want to help." Jay sat down next to her, reaching out for Kota.
"I'm gonna miss him today. I haven't spent a day without him since.... well, before I got pregnant I guess." Erin giggled.
"You're hilarious," Jay smiled, "please?"
"Okay, fine." Erin surrendered.
"Wait!" Jay paused, before holding Kota, he pulled out his phone and snapped a quick photo. Erin was smiling, looking at Kota's face, as he lay there, sleeping.
"What was that for?" Erin asked, handing over Kota.
"Memory purposes," Jay smirked.
"Why do you need a photo if you already have us?" Erin scooted closer to Jay.
"You're right. I don't need it. I have you. I'm so happy about that, but maybe one day in the future..." Jay started.
"You're gonna leave me," Erin shot up, turning away from Jay.
"No! No, no, no. Maybe one day in the future, I won't be able to remember, and I always want to! I won't leave you, intentionally at least, ever again. I love you, and even though I did leave, I missed you every day." Jay stated, "I just wanna be here, live this moment with you, right here, right now."
"How is it, that before we started dating, you were never this romantic? Heck, before we had a kid. What's changed?"Erin questioned.
"I needed to find myself. And the person who'd I'd been, I couldn't be anymore. I vowed to be kinder, a better version of me. Especially a father that was the complete opposite of mine. I can't be like him, and I won't be. I'm gonna be the best dad, husband, friend, and person, or try to be." Jay vowed.
"Jay... don't. Who you are now is the same person you've always been. You still had all of these traits, you were kind courageous, brave, good-hearted, caring and romantic before. You were a great husband, friend, and a helluva person. Now you're just emphasizing it." Erin kissed his cheek as she sat down again.
"One day, I'm gonna make all of this up to you. All the hell I put you through, I'm gonna make it up. One day." Jay stated.
"One day?" Erin smiled, reminiscing.
"Oh definitely!" Jay laughed, "I still remember that!"
"I love you, Jay." A gurgle came from Kota that took both of their attention. "Isn't he just the cutest?"
"He didn't get his looks from, I can say that." Jay stated, "I was an ugly kid."
"Pffft! Whatever. I've seen the pictures, don't lie to me." Erin playfully punched his arm.
"We better get going. Gotta take him to the babysitter." Jay stated, standing.
"Can't we just stay here, I don't want to leave him. What if something happens?" Erin frowned.
"Nothing is going to happen. He will be perfectly fine. We will tell the babysitter to send us pictures and give us updates. If he even poops, we will know minutes after. Everything is gonna be fine!"
"Everything will be a-okay!" Erin reassured herself. "I'm gonna go get dressed, you can put him in his crib for now if you'd like. Once I get dressed, I'll feed him, then we'll head out, 'kay?"
"Okay," Jay replied.
After they got dressed and Erin breastfed Kota, they left. In the car ride, Jay asked some very awkward, if they weren't married, questions about breastfeeding, of which he then regretted.
"Back at the job. You ready to go in?" Jay asked.
"As ready as I'll ever be, I guess," Erin said, unbuckling and opening her car door. "Wait," she started.
"What?" And before Jay could finish saying it, Erin kissed him. "What was that for?"
"We can't do it inside, so might as well do it out here," Erin replied.
"One more?" Jay pleaded.
"Okay," Erin laughed.
Together they walked inside, and with a warm greeting from Platt, their day was off to a good start. Greetings came from everyone else when they headed up the stairs. They sat at their normal desks, in the normal workspace, and enjoyed a normal day.
